PM Case studies (not explicitly on the test)

Question 1

4 case studies

Answer 1

• Wilson 1964-70 + 1974-6
• Thatcher 1979-90
• Blair 1997-2007
• Cameron 2010-6

Question 2

Wilson’ size of parliamentary majority ?

Answer 2

• 1966 = 98

- Other elections never exceeded 4

Question 3

State of party when Wilson became PM ?

Answer 3

• Gaitskill had unexpectedly died

- Wanted to modernise Britain and appeal to a female and younger demographic

Question 4

Key policies of Wilson

Answer 4

• Sexual offences act 1967 - decriminalisation of certain homosexual acts
• Abolition of the death penalty 1967
• High taxation (the top bracket paid 83% and 1975 equal pay act
• Wanted to reduce discrimination against women
• 1967 - Legalised abortions for the first time
• Joined the EEC and Open university
• Comprehensive schools and decolonisation

Question 5

Leadership policy of Wilson ?

Answer 5

• Insecure with his leadership so put the chancellor in a power struggle
• Played people off against each other

Question 6

Important events that effected the leadership of Wilson

Answer 6

• Vietnam war (refused to allow the use of British combat troops)
• 1967 : devaluation of the British pound

Question 7

How did Wilson leave office ?

Answer 7

• 1970 lost the general election

- 1976 as a result of a period of economic crisis that hit EU and he resigned

Question 8

When was Thatcher in power ?

Answer 8

• 1979-90

Question 9

Thatcher’s majority ?

Answer 9

• 1979 : 43
• 1983 : 144
• 1987 : 102

Question 10

State of the Party when Thatcher came to power

Answer 10

• Divided between the wets and dries (one nation tories and the neo-liberals)

Question 11

Thatcher’s key policies

Answer 11

• Reduce welfare programmes
• Section 28 1988
• reduce the power of trade unions
• free market economics
• establish the Trident programme
• privatisation

Question 12

Thatcher’s leadership style ?

Answer 12

• Uncompromising politics and leadership style
• Didn’t use cabinet
• Strong leader and known as the Iron Lady

Question 13

Important events during Thatcher’s rule

Answer 13

• Mining strikes
• Troubles in Northern Ireland
• Falklands war
• Poll tax riots

Question 14

How did Thatcher leave power ?

Answer 14

• She lost the leadership of the conservative party when she was challenged
• Her cabinet lost faith in her and her foreign secretary set her up to resign

Question 15

Tony Blair dates in office

Answer 15

• 1997-2007

Question 16

Tony Blair size of majority

Answer 16

• 1997 : 179
• 2001 : 167
• 2005 : 66

Question 17

State of Party when Blair became PM

Answer 17

• A reformed New Labour (moving to the centre)

Question 18

Blair’s policies

Answer 18

Civil partnership act 2004 
1997 House of Lords reform act 
Human rights act 1998
Scottish and Welsh devolution 
keep tax rates the same as tory chancellors
Media management "spin"

Question 19

Leadership style of Blair

Answer 19

• Strong leader

- Didn’t use cabinet + sofa politics

Question 20

Important events during Blair’s time in office

Answer 20

2003 - involvement in the Iraq war
9/11 attacks 
7/7 attacks 
Israel - Lebanon war 
1998 - Good friday agreement

Question 21

How did Blair leave power ?

Answer 21

• 2006- Israel - Lebanon war saw a large labour rebellion over his support for Bush and he resigned on June 27th 2007

Question 22

Cameron’s time in office

Answer 22

• 2010-16

Question 23

Size of Cameron parliamentary majority

Answer 23

• 2010 : No majority

- 2015 : 12

Question 24

State of party when Cameron became PM

Answer 24

looked to remodel the Conservative party with a new agenda
demoralised due to being out of power for 13 years
unstable
Financial crash and recession

Question 25

Cameron’s key policies

Answer 25

extend deport first appeal later 
2013 same sex marriage legislation 
2011 extend police powers
retain trident 
big society 
balance the books and process of austerity and welfare cuts 
Brexit referendum

Question 26

Leadership style of Cameron

Answer 26

• Used cabinet lots, less presidential and more cooperative due to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

Question 27

Important events during Cameron’s tenure

Answer 27

EU referendum
financial crisis aftermath 
intervention in Libya 
London Olympics 
2014 Scottish independence referendum 
syrian air strikes